"'If you watch the video, there's a moment where I'm in a lot of pain,' Colin Edwards began, 'then I kind of bend down and I'm looking at him for a couple of seconds and right there I'm like Fuck. We lost him. You just know.'"
-Cycle News, Edwards Talks About That Fateful Day
Like Uncini's crash -- no helmet. Neck and head injuries need more tech for all riders....mandated helmet retention straps connected to airbag suit with carbon-fiber neck brace? Would that have made any difference? Dale Earnhart's broken neck resulted in mandatory Hans Device for all NASCAR Cup racers, to prevent basil skull fractures.
Cycle News: The Darkest Day
Marco Simcelli 1987-2011
Cycle World
Marco Simoncelli, 24, tragically lost his life on Sunday when he crashed while racing for fourth place on the second lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix and was hit by Colin Edwards. Valentino Rossi was also involved in the accident. The race was red-flagged and, eventually, cancelled.
Simoncelli, the 2008 250cc world champion and a 14-time Grand Prix winner, lost traction on his factory San Carlo Gresini Honda RC212V, fell and the tangled mess of bike and rider was projected directly into the path of Edwards. Simoncelli’s helmet came off in the crash, leaving him unprotected. Edwards suffered a dislocated shoulder. Rossi ran off the racing surface but managed to remain upright.
Simoncelli had qualified fifth for the penultimate race of the 18-round season. One week earlier at Phillip Island in Australia, the Italian had placed second behind newly crowned series champion Casey Stoner. It was Simoncelli’s second podium of the season and best finish to date in the premier MotoGP class.
Race director Paul Butler held a press conference shortly after the race was called. The press was told by MotoGP medical director Dr. Michele Macchiagodena that Simoncelli suffered trauma to the head, neck and chest. Simoncelli was unconscious when medical staff arrived, explained Macchiagodena, and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. “Unfortunately, it was not possible to help him, and at 16:56, we had to declare he was dead.”
Butler said the accident “will be thoroughly investigated. Our sympathies go to his family, and we want to show every respect possible to Marco.”
Simoncelli moved up to the MotoGP class in 2010 and was a charismatic and controversial figure. Yamaha factory rider Ben Spies, who had withdrawn from the Malaysian GP due to injuries suffered in Australia, was in the television commentary booth with broadcast regulars Gavin Emmett and Nick Harris for the race. During the pre-race show, Harris noted that Simoncelli had received a fair amount of criticism earlier in the season for his aggressive riding.
“Yeah, he has,” agreed Spies. “But he’s come back from every time that’s happened and been fast. He hasn’t let it get to him. Honestly, I haven’t had too many problems with him. We had a good race in Mugello–two hard, clean passes. I think he’s learned from his mistakes. He definitely was a little overzealous with his passes early in the season. There are only 16 or 17 [riders] on the grid, and you want to keep everybody happy.”
Simoncelli was expected to remain with Honda in 2012. “Marco was a very nice guy and a very talented rider,” said HRC VP Shuhei Nakamoto. “Sometimes, I was a little harsh with him, but I wanted to motivate him, as I knew he was able to do even more. Now, I just want to say thank you to Marco for what you gave me and pass my sincere condolences to his family at this very sad time.”
Bridgestone’s Taka Horio added, “Simoncelli’s ascent through the field in just two seasons has been fantastic to watch, testament to his raw talent, ability and dedication to the sport he so loved.”
Kenny Roberts, Jr., 2000 500cc world champion, issued the following statement: “The entire Roberts Family is deeply saddened by the news about Marco. We wish to send our condolences to his family, friends, fans and MotoGP. We will never forget him.”
“I met Simoncelli this past summer and gained a sense of his easy energy, purpose and confidence,” said Cycle World Technical Editor Kevin Cameron. “There is no number of gravel traps that can prevent this kind of accident, in which a rider is tangled up with his own bike and kinetic energy carries them unpredictably into the paths of others. It is always perplexing to confront the leap from being into non-being. How can this be? No answer is satisfactory. I am sorry for the life that is lost.”
Simoncelli’s greatest on-track rival, Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, said, “Marco was a strong rider, and he always pushed hard. We raced together since we were kids. I saw him always pushing to the maximum. He crashed many times but without major injuries. He seemed invincible. What happened today seems impossible.”
MotoGP Race Direction press conference: Marco Simoncelli
MotoGP.com
Paul Butler opened the press conference, saying: “The purpose of this press conference is to apprise you of the circumstances that resulted in the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli. You know who we all are, the Race Direction; Claude Danis who is the FIM representative, Javier Alonso the Dorna representative, Franco Uncini the riders’ representative, and I’m Paul Butler the IRTA representative and Race Director. Michele Macchiagodena is our Medical Director and he will explain to you the circumstances that resulted in this death.”
Michele Macchiagodena said: “I’m very sad to be here to report about the death of Marco Simoncelli, a friend. Because of the crash he had during the race, in which he was hit by other riders, he suffered a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest. When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation). Immediately in the Medical Centre, with the help also of the Doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local Doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax. The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead.”
Paul Butler responded to a question about Marco Simoncelli’s helmet coming off in the crash by saying: “I think if I may reply, that will be for another occasion. Quite clearly the consequences and circumstances surrounding the accident will be thoroughly investigated.”
Answering a question about the condition of Colin Edwards, who was involved in the incident, Michele Macchiagodena said: “He had a dislocation of the shoulder and with anaesthesia the shoulder now is in the correct position. He is fine.”
Paul Butler concluded the press conference by adding: “Our sympathies go to his family and we want to show every respect possible to Marco.”
Over 50,000 fans expected to attend Marco Simoncelli’s funeral
MotorcycleNews.com
Marco Simoncelli’s funeral will take place in Italy tomorrow (Thursday) with more than 50,000 fans expected to attend.
Italy has been a nation united in grief since the popular 24-year-old died from multiple injuries sustained in a second lap incident during Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
Simoncelli lost control of his Honda RC212V machine at Turn 11 and was struck by American Colin Edwards and nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi.
The San Carlo Gresini Honda rider’s body arrived from Kuala Lumpur in Rome on Tuesday morning and the funeral service will take place in the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Coriano at 3pm (Thursday). The former 250GP world champion will be buried in the cemetery of his home town close to Riccione on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
Close friend Rossi, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and former world champion Jorge Lorenzo will attend the funeral service.
